$1 Million Gold Cup Tops NYRA Fall Schedule

The New York Racing Association, Inc. has released the stakes schedules for the 2012 Belmont Park and Aqueduct Racetrack fall meets that will be highlighted by the $1 million TVG Jockey Club Gold Cup (gr. I).

The purse for the Gold Cup, one of five grade I races on the Sept. 29 race card at Belmont, was increased this year from $750,000. In addition to the 1 1/4-mile Gold Cup for older males, additional grade I races that day are the $600,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational for turf routers, $600,000 Flower Bowl Invitational for filly and mare turf routers, $400,000 Beldame Invitational for filly and mare dirt routers, and the $400,000 Vosburgh Invitational for dirt sprinters. Also on Sept. 29 is the grade II, $400,000 Kelso Handicap for dirt milers.

The Belmont stakes schedule consists of 21 graded stakes and 10 other stakes and includes 11 Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In” events, with the winners receiving an automatic starting position in the corresponding World Championships race. Challenge race winners will also have their pre-entry and entry fees paid, with a travel allowance of $10,000 for North American runners and $20,000 for international runners when they start in the Breeders’ Cup World Championships.

The grade I stakes offerings for the Belmont fall meet begin with the $300,000 Garden City for 3-year-old fillies Sept. 15.

On Oct. 6, juvenile males compete in the $400,000 Foxwoods Champagne (gr. I) at a mile on the main track, while 2-year-old fillies will also race a mile in the $400,000 Frizette (gr. I). That day’s trio of grade I races is completed by the $400,000 Jamaica for 3-year-old routers on the turf.

Among additions to the Belmont fall meet are the grade II, $200,000 Futurity for 2-year-olds going six furlongs on the dirt and the grade II, $200,000 Matron for 2-year-old fillies. Both races, which were run during the Belmont spring meet in 2011, will be contested on Sept. 30.

New York breds will be featured on the “New York Showcase Day” card Oct. 20. The seven stakes races for New York breds with purses totaling $1.15 million are highlighted by the $250,000 Empire Classic for dirt routers.

Additions to the Aqueduct fall stakes schedule include the grade II, $200,000 Nashua for juveniles going a mile on dirt and the grade III, $150,000 Tempted for juvenile fillies. Both races, which were run during the Belmont fall meet in 2011, are scheduled for Nov. 4.